The short answer is drive an electric car that plugs in.
There is a lot of talk today about alternative fuels, hybrid vehicles and other ways to beat the high price of gas. But what is the answer? First, let's get the question right. Many people are asking the wrong ones.
The energy question is about generating power. Fixing our energy supply problem will involve many different methods like solar, wind, tidal, geo-thermal, etc. (I've removed bio-fuels from this list because they take food off our tables in a most literal sense. See below.) These things will free us from foreign oil and save our planet, but they do not address the problem of transportation.
The transportation question is a very different one, and is about
using the power we generate to drive our car/truck/bike/harvester in the most efficient way possible.
Most vehicles and mobile equipment today have a piston engine for a drive system. Piston engines burn fuel for power. The basic problem is that piston engines are very complicated, heavy and inefficient. So, a better drive system is what is needed. The most efficient drive system is electric.
Let's look at the common options.
Hybrid Cars:
Most hybrid cars are hybrid drive, not hybrid powered. That means they have a piston engine drive and an electric drive working together, but they are powered by fuel. Hybrid cars are more expensive to buy, vastly more complicated and more expensive to repair. Even when you consider that the best hybrid cars are about 35% more efficient than a standard car in city traffic (much less on the highway), it would take many years of city-only driving with no repairs to make up the price difference. Because they still use a piston engine drive system, the standard hybrid is not nearly as efficient as it could (and should) be. Therefore, we think that standard hybrids are a bad idea.
There is a different type of hybrid design not widely used yet. It is hybrid powered, but all electric drive. The engine only generates electricity and does not drive the vehicle directly. Did you ever wonder why trains are so efficient? They have used this exact type of drive system for decades, referred to as "diesel-electric". Because it uses electric-only drive, this type of hybrid is a good idea!
Alternative fuels like bio-diesel, ethanol and other fuels:
Two problems: They all have the same problems when burned in a piston engine that gasoline does. Some burn cleaner or a bit more efficiently, but it's just a variation on the same old theme. They all pollute the air and use a piston engine drive. The second problem with "renewable" fuels from farmed products is that they require a very large amount of crops per gallon to make, and the process uses a lot of fuel itself. As a result, the savings is minimal at best. Food prices are only going to rise with the extensive use of farm land for ethanol and/or bio-diesel production. Because alternative fuels still require a piston engine drive, it's a bad idea for transportation.
Hydrogen:
There are two different ways to use hydrogen. Either way, hydrogen burns without any harmful emissions, leaving only pure water. However, doing so with the same old primitive piston engine is just plain crazy. BMW actually built one, but I don't think it went into production.
Hydrogen's real power and benefit is much better used in a "fuel cell" which combines it with oxygen in the air to generate perfectly clean electricity without any moving parts. Think of hydrogen as nature's super-efficient battery. Combined with an all-electric drive, it's the perfect design. Since it can be used to generate lots of clean electricity, a hydrogen fuel cell is a very good idea.
So, since electric drive is the best we have, it's just a matter of storing and delivering electricity to that drive system. Standard batteries are still the best way to do that, but there's no doubt that they leave a lot to be desired. This is why I think that the key to our transportation future is the development of a better battery. The sad part is that there is not much hype for this in the public eye, so it's not very popular compared to what I would call misguided pursuits discussed above.
Q: "Ok, but if you plug in an electric car, it must get it's power from somewhere and our power plants also create greenhouse gasses, so why is electric so much better?"
A: The biggest reason is that large power plants are much more efficient and cleaner at generating power than any gas-powered car could ever be with any fuel.
An electric vehicle is a much simpler machine and therefore lighter, more efficient, cleaner and easier to maintain. Electric drive is by far the best way to power vehicles and equipment. It produces zero emissions and very little heat, noise and vibration. With new battery technology, ranges are getting longer and more practical for the average driver. If you commute less than 100 miles, an electric car could probably get you there with ease and comfort.
Q: "So why isn't everyone driving electric cars?"
A: Because gas and therefore the cars that run on it have been plentiful and cheap for over 100 years. But no longer.
This really hurts a motor-head like myself to say, but the era of the piston engine has come to an end. They may stay in use for specialized purposes, but not in our cars. They are very complicated, primitive and inefficient. Now that gas is over $4.00/gal., all the ugly problems with piston engines are no longer tolerable. The demand for electric cars will begin to build in the next few years. Eventually, electric cars will be cheap and common. As electric becomes more popular, we will see more performance, luxury and options for less money. Until then, tell your car dealers and politicians that you want good electric transportation options.
TreeHugger.com has a great report called:
17 Electric Cars You Must Know About
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